Importance of a balanced diet.

[Bozzi]

Eating a balanced diet is very important as you are meeting your body's nutritional needs at all angles. The fact is that no single food type is going to provide your body with all the essential nutrients that a healthy body needs. A balanced diet should contain the 7 essential nutrients that are shown below.

Proteins: Essential for growth and the building of new tissue and repairing damaged tissue.

Fats: Absorbs fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E & K), maintains healthy skin & hair, insulates organs, and promotes healthy cell function.

Carbohydrates: Provides your body and brain with slow burning energy.

Fiber: Aids in healthy digestion, promotes the growth of certain friendly bacteria.

Vitamins & Minerals: Promotes growth and development, aids immunity and metabolism.

Water: Serves as medium for transporting chemicals to and from cells, helps body temperature, promotes removal of waste products and aids absorption of various nutrients in the digestive system

Having insufficient amounts of these nutrients will have a negative impact on ones physical and mental health by promoting disease, infections, poor development, and in some cases, death. By consuming all 7 essential nutrients, you are in effect promoting your body's health and preventing disease.

[cassandra]

Hello Bozzi,

great description of the nutrients your body needs! I used to do lot's of cardio until one year ago when I got pregnant. I still did some sports but I also cut back on some sports as I don't wanted to endanger my baby. I went to specific pregnancy sports classes which I enjoyed a lot actually. I also took care of my diet a lot. When you are pregnant I think you really have to have a close look on what you are eating because it is very important for your unborn child. However once my dear daughter was born I had to cut back a lot on everything because I was just exhausted of being a first time mum! I was very tired all the time, had problems breast feeding and I was sad because I didn't move a lot anymore. I still tried to eat healthy and get all the nutrition I'd need. However at some point I decided on starting formula feeding my baby. One very important factor by choosing a formula where also the ingredients. Since I started trying to get pregnant, during my pregnancy and also now I always wanted to eat healthy and prevent a healthy nutrition for my baby. So we finally choose to use Holle organic formula from myorganicformula.com. When we started formula feeding our baby I had the feeling she was fed better then when I was still breast feeding. Maybe it is also psychological but I have to feeling now I can take better care of her and also of myself. Now we are also starting feeding solids in form of pulp and also here I try to give her everything that is important for her health. Preventing a healthy surrounding is very important for her to grow up in my opinion!
Since we started formula feeding it is also great that I started doing sports again, I have way more energy for my beloved family now!

Best cassandra